NFL Player Fractures Neck In Car Accident, Will Likely Miss 2019 Season

posted by Bill Galluccio -
May 8, 2019

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul could miss the entire 2019 season after he fractured his neck in a car accident in Broward County, Florida. The accident occurred last Thursday (May 2) and Pierre-Paul was treated at a hospital before being released. Authorities say that he was not speeding at the time and was not cited for the single-car wreck.

"As we stated last week following the news of Jason's auto accident, our immediate concern was for both Jason and his passenger," Buccaneer's general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. "While Jason was treated and released in South Florida the same day of the accident, we wanted to ensure that our medical team had an opportunity to perform a thorough evaluation here in Tampa, and that process is currently ongoing."

According to a report by ESPN, Pierre-Paul will likely require surgery and is meeting with neck specialists to determine the best course of action. The nine-year veteran hopes he will be able to salvage some of the 2019 season.

This is not the first time that the 30-year-old defensive end has suffered an off-the-field injury that cost him significant playing time. In July 2015, he lost several fingers following a fireworks accident and was unsure if he would ever play football again. He managed to make a comeback and suited up for the final eight games of the season.